IWhen a handful of Japanese researchers set out to discover whether something special and clinically therapeutic happens when people spend time in nature, it was more like a lark than a scientific study. It sounded like. These were inspired by new recommendations from Japan’s Forestry Agency, which in the early 1980s began encouraging people to take walks in the forest to improve their health. This practice was called forest bathing or forest bathing and was believed to reduce stress, but this was never proven. Since then, a growing body of evidence has shown that spending time in nature produces many measurable beneficial changes to the body.
In one early study, Yoshifumi Miyazaki, a forest therapy expert and researcher at Chiba University in Japan, found that people who walked for 40 minutes through a cedar forest were more sensitive to stress hormones, which are involved in blood pressure and immunity. They found that their cortisol levels were low. – System functionality compared to walking for 40 minutes in the lab. “I was surprised,” Miyazaki recalls. “Spending time in the woods creates a physiological state of relaxation.”
Another researcher, Dr. Chin Li, a professor at Nippon Medical School in Tokyo, found that trees and plants release aromatic compounds called phytoncides, which, when inhaled, induce healthy biological changes in a manner similar to aromatherapy. I discovered that it can be encouraged. Because of its therapeutic effect. In his research, Lee found that when people walk in the forest or stay overnight in the forest, they improve blood circulation, which is often associated with protection against cancer, improved immunity, and lower blood pressure. It has been shown to show change.
Recent research has also linked nature to alleviating symptoms of health issues such as heart disease, depression, cancer, anxiety, and attention disorders.
“The tranquil atmosphere of the forest, the beautiful scenery, the good smells, and the fresh, clean air all contribute to the effect,” says Lee.
1 Effective in lowering blood pressure
Studies have shown that spending time outdoors is good for the heart, and with high blood pressure costing the United States approximately $48.6 billion annually and affecting one in three Americans, green spaces Visiting can be an easy and affordable way to improve your heart health. A large study in June 2016 found that spending just 30 minutes or more in a park each week could help nearly 10% of people with high blood pressure control their high blood pressure. “If everyone could take time for nature, there would be incredible savings in health care costs,” said study author Daniel Shanahan, a researcher at the University of Queensland in Australia.
Air pollution is associated with an increased risk of heart attack, so fresh air could be a factor, but because the study participants lived in cities (and therefore were also not exposed to air pollution) ), but that doesn’t seem to be the only factor. Scientists believe that stress reduction also plays a role. “Nature is undemanding,” Shanahan says. “Looking at the leaves on a tree requires effortless attention, unlike frequent emails at work or doing chores around the house.”
The natural scent of wood may also play a role, and phytoncides have been shown to lower blood pressure by calming the fight-or-flight response that stresses the body.
2 Touching it can increase awe.
Seeing stunning waterfalls and rolling countryside doesn’t just enrich your Instagram feed, it can also inspire a sense of awe with many health benefits. In a 2015 study, University of California, Irvine researcher Paul Piff found that people who looked up at towering trees for 60 seconds were more likely to report feeling awe, and were then more likely to feel awe than strangers than bystanders. found that it is likely to help. With buildings just as tall but far less awe-inspiring.
“Experiences of awe align people with something bigger than themselves,” says Piff. “They make individuals feel less disenfranchised and selfish and make them act in a more generous and helpful manner.” The benefits of awe are physical as well. Experiencing moments of awe regularly is associated with reduced levels of inflammatory compounds in the body.
Interacting with nature on a daily basis also has benefits. His April 2016 study of 44 cities found that urban areas with more parks scored higher on indicators of community well-being. The reason may be that parks give people a chance to interact with their neighbors and be active, which may improve health, researchers say. People living in cities with more green space were more likely to report feeling more energetic, healthy, and purposeful.
3 Promotes cancer-fighting cells
An April 2016 study published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives found that women living in areas with more vegetation had a 12% lower risk of death from any cause than those living in areas with less greenery. It has been reported. It may be thanks to clean air, but nature may also provide some medicine of its own. Research by Lee from Nippon Medical School shows that when people walk in forests, they inhale phytoncides, which increases the number of natural killer (NK) cells. Natural killer (NK) cells are a type of white blood cell that support the immune system and are associated with lower cancer risk. . NK cells are also thought to play a role in fighting infections and autoimmune diseases, and reducing inflammation that causes a wide range of diseases, including heart disease and diabetes.
In a 2010 study, researchers found that people who took two long walks in the woods in succession had a 50% increase in the number of NK cells and a 56% increase in the activity of these cells. Did. These activity levels remained 23% higher than normal for a month after the walk. In a separate study, Lee and his co-authors found that injecting phytoncides into people’s hotel rooms had some of the same anti-cancer cell effects seen among people walking in the forest. discovered.
4 Effective for depression and anxiety
Not surprisingly, people living in urban areas are much more likely to suffer from anxiety and mood disorders than those living in rural areas. This is bad news since about 80% of Americans live in cities. The good news is that his small 2015 study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that people who walked for 90 minutes in natural environments such as forests or natural parks were less likely to ruminate. That’s it. This is a characteristic of rumination. Depression and anxiety – and had lower activity in brain regions associated with depression than people walking in urban areas. “In a rapidly urbanizing world, easily accessible natural areas may be critical for mental health,” the study authors wrote.
Although the exact mechanisms of how nature affects mood disorders are unclear, researchers at least agree that time spent in nature tends to boost mood. “Brief exposure to nature can lift people’s moods,” says Ming Kuo, an environmental behavioral scientist at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Another possibility is that air near moving water, forests, and mountains contains high levels of negative ions, which can reduce symptoms of depression, according to a study published in the journal Frontiers in Psychology. It is believed that there is a possibility of reducing the
5 May Help with ADHD Symptoms
A small study of children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) suggests that nature walks may be a natural treatment to improve attention. In one study, a team led by Kuo at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign had children with ADHD take three 20-minute walks without medication in various locations, including a park, neighborhood, and city center. The researchers then tested the children and found that after a walk in the park, the children were significantly more focused than after walks in other environments. In another 2011 study, Kuo et al. found that children who played regularly in outdoor areas had milder ADHD symptoms than children who played indoors or in areas with less nature, according to parents. did. “Nature gives the parts of the brain that are used to improve concentration a break,” says Kuo. “When you spend time doing things that mentally relax you, you feel rejuvenated.”
Evidence suggests that even people without symptoms of ADHD can improve their attention and concentration through exposure to nature. One study at the University of Michigan found that people’s short-term memory improved by 20% after a nature walk, but there was no change after walking on the street.
6 False nature has its advantages
Before you start planning your escape to the countryside, consider the following: ” said Shanahan of the University of Queensland.
Research shows that images, sounds, and smells of nature, even if they are artificial, can have positive health effects. For example, listening to nature sounds through headphones has been shown to help you recover from stress faster. This may explain why many spas employ natural sounds in their treatment rooms.
Some studies have shown that looking out the window can improve alertness, reduce stress, and even help people in the hospital recover after surgery. One widely cited study of people recovering from abdominal surgery found that those with tree-lined views were discharged from the hospital faster, had fewer complications, and needed more help than those whose rooms faced a brick wall. It turned out that the amount of painkillers was low.
